UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Jazz guitarist and vocalist Alicyn Yaffee is a local girl (Kelseyville High Class of 2008) now making it big in the New York City jazz music scene.

Returning to her roots, Yaffee will perform with bassist Benny Rietveld on Sunday, April 22, as part of the “Concerts with Conversation” series at the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.

The performance starts at 3 p.m. and takes place in Riffe’s Meeting House next to the hotel.

“We’re really fortunate to have Alicyn perform in front of her many fans here,” said Tallman owner Bernie Butcher. “The duo with Alicyn and Benny Rietveld is truly magical.”

Yaffee is one of the next generation of talented and inspiring young jazz musicians to come out of Northern California.

Now based in New York, Yaffee's debut album, "Someone Else," features all original songs exuding the pensive intensity and lushness of artists like Alanis Morissette and Joni Mitchell. Tracks from this CD can be heard at https://alicynyaffee.bandcamp.com/releases .

“Alicyn is a great person and one of the most accomplished musicians to emerge from our program,” said longtime Kelseyville High music director Tom Aiken. “It’s really rewarding to see how much she’s accomplished in the last few years.”

A rare bird among young guitar players, Yaffee has a soulful style, emphasizing tone and feel over flashy technique, while at the same time possessing considerable harmonic knowledge and a good deal of prowess on the fretboard.

She has recently been performing as a duo with Benny Rietveld, one of the country’s most accomplished bass musicians.

Born in Holland and raised in Hawaii, Rietveld toured the world with the great Miles Davis before joining Carlos Santana to record the album “Spirits Dancing in the Flesh.” He then became a permanent member of the Santana Band and is now its musical director.

Tickets at $25 plus tax are available by calling the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0. Coffee and cookies are served to guests.

The hotel is also offering a 10-percent discount on hotel bookings for people purchasing tickets to the concert.